MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Robbie Loomis is Richard Petty Motorsports' director of competition, but Saturday morning at Martinsville Speedway -- a track steeped in Petty racing lore -- Loomis was forced to be an overall spokesman for an organization in apparent graphic turmoil.

For Cup Series race fans, the best news was that "the plan" was to be at Talladega Superspeedway with four cars next weekend, and to complete the three races after that with a full complement of teams.

But even though he easily "talked the talk," Loomis' comments weren't quite definitive that RPM would "finish the walk."

"We have every intention of finishing up the season strong and moving into 2011," Loomis said. "But right now, I'm focused on this practice that's going be coming up and getting those cars where they perform.

"Timing's everything in this sport, and you pop out of here with a win on Sunday and all of the stories are going to be looking a lot better."

In the first practice, default team leader A.J. Allmendinger was fourth on the time sheet behind fast man Brad Keselowski. Paul Menard (13th), Aric Almirola (29th) and Elliott Sadler (33rd) rounded out RPM's quartet. In final practice, Almirola (ninth), Menard (11th) and Allmendinger (12th) were in the top 12 while Sadler was 31st.

While speculation this week has centered around payments to former lead driver Kasey Kahne, who was granted his release from the No. 9 Ford earlier this week; payments to Roush Fenway Racing and Roush Yates Engines for equipment; shop lease payments to building owner Boris Said; the No. 9's driver beyond this weekend; and releasing team members, Loomis tried to simplify and clarify things.

Loomis reconfirmed that no decisions had been made for a driver for the No. 9.

"Most of the things we've been working on [have] been our models for 2011 and what our race teams look like moving forward," Loomis said. "Aric is somebody we were looking at to drive for us [in 2011] and the timing of it didn't work out and come together, so he got the deal with Dale [Earnhardt] Jr.'s Nationwide team, which is a great opportunity for him and a strong organization.

"For us, we had Marcos Ambrose come available and we're real excited about A.J. and Marcos as we go into next season. All of the drivers have really stepped up. I know A.J. met with all the guys [Friday] and have really been team leaders. I called Marcos [Friday] night and putting a good qualifying lap up there was encouraging for that, too."

Loomis said rumors of crewmen being dismissed were unfounded.

"There hasn't been any change," Loomis said. "Max Jones, our president, has been working really hard with the Roush crowd and everybody on the plans for the future. I think it's been a collective effort. The only change we've really had is Kasey and his spotter, Cole [Kahne, Kasey's cousin]. Those are the two guys that are gone.

"I think it's our full intention to go forward. Like I said, most of the things we've been working on throughout the week is, 'What do we look like in 2011? What's our driver lineup look like the rest of the year since we lost Kasey?'

"There's been a lot of speculation about a lot of things -- there always has been in this sport -- but what gives me confidence is that we've always had the ability to move forward. We do our best today.

"I was thinking riding up the road [Saturday] morning with Dale [Inman, Richard Petty's cousin] and I said, 'You can't look too far out in the future because today is all that we really have,' and many of you know that from being around this sport." (Continued)